Page 24 - Asia 2021 Catalog

2. San Kanphaeng Craft Village: San Kamphaeng is a paradise for craft lovers. The 18km stretch of
highway that crosses it houses villages and factories that produce pottery, saa paper, lacquerware,
paper and silk umbrellas. many trades concentrated in one area, it
is one of the best places to watch the craftsmen at work. From the
city of Chiang Mai, San Kamphaeng is about 13 km east on
Highway 1006, also known as the "Handicrafts Highway". two lane
highway is very congested during peak seasons, as it is the only
major highway passing through the center of activity. Shops and
mini-factories line both sides of the Chiang Mai - San Kamphaeng
road, where local artists practice their art with a skill born of a centuries-old tradition. San Kamphaeng
is the place to go for Thai silk, considered the best in the world because its coarser texture can
withstand heavier dyes. Complementing the product selection are
lacquers, pottery (including the fine Thai Celadon) and distinct,
brightly colored umbrellas that are a specialty of the north. While
the quiet click-click of silk weavers' handlooms has largely been
replaced by machines these days and the extra efficiency lowers
the price, there are still some remaining traditionalists who make
silk in the traditional way. machine-made silk is of a wonderful
quality, the personal touch of hand-woven silk has an indefinable
superiority (with an associated price increase). Lacquer is another
popular item and the shops that sell it can be found across the
street of San Kamphaeng. Thai lacquer features a glossy black
base with intricate gold details. Pottery is another artisan skill mastered long ago and passed down
in San Kamphaeng. For over 600 years the area's artisans have produced fantastic pottery, including
the extremely fine pottery known as Celadon.

After lunch you will return to the hotel and you will have the rest of the time available for your curiosities,
dinner and overnight stay in a 4 * Hotel

Day 6 - (Chiang Rai).
After Breakfast, departure for Chiang Rai where we will visit the Temples, the Musi and a Karen village
Chiang Rai is the capital of the far north region. Located almost 600
meters above sea level, it covers an area of approximately 11,700 km2.
Its province borders Myanmar to the north and Laos to the northeast.
Most of the territory is mountainous, with peaks reaching 1,500 meters
high and several rivers flow in the valleys between the mountains, the
most important being the Kok River, near which the city rises. This
river is the main connection route with the nearby province of Chiang
Mai, it crosses the center of Chiang Rai and passes through several
tribal settlements and parks from which elephant rides in the jungle depart. In the far north of the province is
an area called the "Golden Triangle" where the Mekong River and the Ruak River meet thus creating the
border line between Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, while the high mountains all around they are inhabited
by tribes such as the Akha, Lahu, Karen and Mon. The region has a long history of small kingdoms that
had their origin in the pre-Thai period, while the city of Chiang Rai was founded in 1262 by King Mengrai:
capital of the Lanna Kingdom until it was overtaken in importance by Chiang Mai. Today, Chiang Rai is a
small but attractive city and presents itself as a perfect starting point for exploring the scenic and cultural
beauties of Northern Thailand.

Il Wat Rong Khun
Quando si esplorano i templi buddisti, le persone sono spesso stupite dall'abbondanza di colore che si
trova nell'architettura e nella decorazione di tali luoghi. Il Wat Rong Khun rompe con i concetti tradizionali
e la prima caratteristica che spicca è il candore quasi assoluto del complesso.

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